Murphy takes a stand
on the war in Iraq

The Murphy File
By Tom Waring

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy believes the American military has done its job in nearly four years in Iraq, forcing Saddam Hussein from power and installing a new government.
"Now it’s time that they come home," he said.
Murphy (D-8th dist.) was elected in November, when Democrats captured 30 seats in the House of Representatives to take control for the first time in 12 years. Democrats also took over the Senate by winning six seats.
The takeover allowed Rep. Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, to become majority leader of the House. On Friday afternoon, he joined Murphy in a chat about Iraq at the Joseph A. Schumacher VFW Post 1597 in Croydon.
Earlier in the week, the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve a $124 billion spending bill for Iraq and various domestic programs. It also includes language calling for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2008.
The bill passed largely on a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.
Murphy supports the legislation, which was scheduled for a vote in front of the full House on Thursday, March 22. A lawyer and former Army captain who served a stint in Baghdad with the 82nd Airborne Division, he argues that American troops are "referees in a civil war" and that Iraqi troops have to come "off the sidelines."
It’s unclear how many Republicans will support the bill, though Murphy notes that North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones, who serves with him on the Armed Services Committee, intends to vote in favor.
Hoyer said the Democratic position is supported by two-thirds of the American public, according to polls.
However, the Senate last week narrowly defeated a resolution calling on President George W. Bush to begin a troop withdrawal within four months, with all troops out by next spring.
Even if the House and Senate agree on a bill, Bush will likely veto it, and Democrats won’t have enough votes for an override.
Hoyer said the Democratic stance does not impede the work of Army Gen. David Petraeus, who heads the U.S. effort in Iraq, or the fighting men and women. He argued that it’s aimed at forcing Bush to convince Iraq to speed up the training of its brigades.
"We’re going to demand accountability," he said.
The congressional leader thinks his party is offering a "responsible" policy for a troop withdrawal over a more than 18-month period.
"It’s not like we’re saying tomorrow," he said.
In addition, Hoyer notes that the Iraq Study Group — headed by James Baker, a Republican and former secretary of state — supports a timeline for troop withdrawal.

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It was a busy week for Murphy, who also joined colleagues in a meeting with Bertie Ahern, Ireland’s prime minister, or Taoiseach.
Ahern and the U.S. lawmakers discussed issues such as peace agreements, the growing Irish economy, the state of Irish-American relations and efforts to unite the Irish government by Monday’s deadline.
"I congratulate Taioseach Ahern on the cease-fire and the continued economic growth in Ireland," Murphy said. "The people of Ireland are near to my heart, and the Taoiseach has my continued support."

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Earlier this month, Murphy met with Jean-David Levitte, France’s ambassador to the United States, in his congressional office. The congressman spoke to the ambassador and handed him a letter in an effort to have France pressure or force the town of St. Denis to rescind the naming of one of its streets in honor of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
"It’s a disgrace and an affront to every police officer who serves," he said.
The letter read, in part, "The naming of a street in Abu-Jamal’s honor remains a source of frustration and anger to the people of Philadelphia, and in particular Philadelphia’s police officers. My district includes a piece of Northeast Philadelphia and my father served as a Philadelphia police officer for many years, so this issue is extremely important to me."
In December, the House passed a resolution condemning St. Denis for its actions. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, whom Murphy narrowly defeated in the November election. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com